The day that stops a nation featuring the ‘race that stops a nation’ is upon us with Melbourne Cup Day 2021 running at Flemington Racecourse today, Tuesday November 2, and below we take a look at the full Melbourne Cup Day scratchings and track report ahead of the first.

Breaking news this morning just minutes from the official 2021 Melbourne Cup scratchings deadline, the Matt Cumani-trained rank outsider in the race Future Score (15) has been withdrawn due to lameness in his right leg. Click here for the full story.

Flemington Track Report – 02/11/2021

Victoria Racing Club                    

• Rail: Out 2m Entire Circuit
• Weather: Fine
• Dual Track Meeting: N
• Track Type: Turf
• Track Rating: Good 4
• General Comment: Finalised 2/11 – 7:30am
• Irrigation: 13mm last 24 hours, 43mm last 7 days
• Rainfall: nil last 24 hours, 6.8mm last 7 days
• Track Information: Inspection 6AM 2/11; Going Stick 8.9 Inside 8.9 Outside 8.7 Shear 11.6 Moisture 38.9%

The weather is ideal for Melbourne Cup Day, sunny skies and no rain on the radar, meaning there is unlikely to be a change to the current Good (4) Flemington track rating – sorry mudlarks!

Flemington racing kicks off early at 10:45am (AEDT) with the two-year-olds on the big stage in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) and the bumper 10-race Melbourne Cup Day card continues through until the Listed MSS Security Stakes (1200m) for the sprinters at 5:15pm (AEDT) for those that make it past the Cup!

Along with the day’s opener, the only other Group support act takes place one race after the Melbourne Cup is run and won with a quality field of mares facing off in Race 8 at 4:00pm (AEDT) – the Group 3 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m).

Of course, all eyes and ears and bets are on the iconic Flemington Race 7 at 3:00pm (AEDT) when the nation stands still for a shade over three minutes and we get our 161^st Melbourne Cup winner.

The 2021 Melbourne Cup field is arguably one of the weakest in recent history, but there are still a host of exciting stayers in the mix and a few fairy-tales minus the scratched Future Score.

Incentivise – who comes into barrier 15 with the withdrawal of Future Score – is your short-priced and deserving Melbourne Cup favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au chasing the Caulfield Cup – Melbourne Cup double for the first time since Ethereal (2001) and every bit a champion in the making.

See below for the full Melbourne Cup Day 2021 race program, Flemington scratchings and jump times before heading to Ladbrokes.com.au for all the day’s top racing odds!

Flemington Scratchings – 02/11/2021

• Total Scratchings: 12

Race 1 (10:45am) – Group 3 $200,000 Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m)

• No current scratchings

Race 2 (11:20am) – $130,000 The Macca’s Run (2800m)

• #12 Prince Alby (5)

Race 3 (12:00pm) – $130,000 Resimax Group Subzero Handicap (1400m)

• #10 Tycoon Raff (8)

Race 4 (12:40pm) – Listed $175,000 Furphy Plate (1800m)

• #8 Saltpeter (9)

Race 5 (1:20pm) – $130,000 Grinders Coffee Roasters Trophy (1400m)

• No current scratchings

Race 6 (1:55pm) – $130,000 The Schweppervescence Plate (1000m)

• #6 Keep Reading (7)
• #10 Sir Freddie (10)
• #11 Corvino (9)
• #12 Ashema (6)

Race 7 (3:00pm) – Group 1 $7,750,000 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m)

• #20 Future Score (15)

Race 8 (4:00pm) – Group 3 $200,000 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m)

• No current scratchings

Race 9 (4:40pm) – Listed $1750,000 TAB Trophy (1800m)

• #1 Cerberus (12)
• #15 Willowy (16)

Race 10 (5:15pm) – Listed $175,000 MSS Security Sprint (1200m)

• #1 Isaurian (4)
• #9 Neighbourhood (3)

*All times quoted are local (AEDT) and subject to change.